Dialectical thinking is a unique ability, without which people could not have reasonable dialogues with others, skillfully reason, exchange opinions, build logical chains in their thoughts. This is the most important component for the formation of modern society and various spheres of human activity.
In order to prepare specialists who could freely navigate the surrounding cycle of reality, show resourcefulness and come to extraordinary conclusions, teachers try to instill such thinking in children from preschool age. In this article, we will consider in more detail what this concept is.
General information
The methodological role of dialectics is to recognize the general algorithms of the objects under study, to understand how they develop. As a result of this process, the essence of the object is comprehended. In addition, the method helps the researcher to understand his own thinking. Through dialectical algorithms, the subject can consistently buildpersonal judgments, weed out the detected errors and fill in the gaps. Logic diagrams allow you to draw generalizing conclusions and systematize the results.
Definition
Based on the above, we will try to define this concept. As you can see, dialectical thinking is the ability to reason, skillfully owning arguments, and correctly express your thoughts. Such a mindset is reflexive, that is, it is able to detect and analyze contradictions in the process of studying an object and within itself. There is a close relationship between the existing and the developing. For example, in materialism, two theories are combined: the development of the physical world in conjunction with the logic of knowledge. In philosophy, dialectical thinking is mainly used for argumentation. Let's see how it happened in practice.
In philosophy
Indian and European philosophical traditions are based on the art of reasoning. This method became popular thanks to the concept of Plato, in which he used the dialogues of people. Such reasoning was carried out as follows: two subjects, whose opinions were contradictory, had to come to a common truth, exchanging their conjectures. Since the time of Hegel, the dialectical way of thinking has been put in opposition to metaphysics.
Gradually this method took on a different form. With the development of progress, there were changes in the content of dialectics. She is now regarded asa separate science based on the principles of abstraction. In this regard, there are two main forms of objective logical thinking:
- materialistic;
- philosophical.
How Forms Evolved
Initially, philosophical teachings had a naive-dialectical and elemental-materialistic essence. The first form of dialectics is ancient. It was formed approximately 2500 years ago in Ancient Greece, India and China. A similar wisdom was characteristic of Eastern philosophers. According to ancient thinking, emphasis was placed on pair categories of mental algorithms, that is, finding a single basis for different, to the direct opposite, already matured ideas and concepts. As well as symbols and images, both in well-known philosophical directions, and in esoteric ones. This is a single form in which the struggle of contradictions in the content of thinking can be traced. Such an exotic concept was not quite familiar to Europeans. Nevertheless, it was theoretically substantiated and set up thinkers to find a reasonable foundation, the ultimate goal of which is the search for mutually determinable categories of thinking.
In each country, the concept we discussed had a different character. Therefore, the forms of dialectical thinking also underwent changes. For example, in Marxism it was presented as a reflector of the laws in the formation of matter, which is constantly in motion and develops by itself. The view of Karl Marx on materialistic dialectics is opposite to the concepts that he outlined in his workHegel. In his philosophy, it implies a transition from one conclusion to another, in which it is found that these definitions are limited and one-sided, they negate themselves. In the USSR, only materialistic thinking was allowed; other forms of dialectics were treated with great suspicion. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it, on the contrary, lost its significance. Although some authors evaluated the materialistic form positively.
Materialistic Dialectics
Some modern philosophers, referring to this way of thinking, associate it exclusively with the actions or activities of a person. In the 21st century, scientists began to introduce dialectics into science. This helps to resolve antagonistic tendencies, to make them accessible and intelligible. Also paradoxical and unusual contradictions in all kinds of scientific research, including applied mathematics. This form of thinking has found its confirmation in biology. All organisms are subject to constant metabolic and evolutionary changes by their specific content of information and physico-chemical development according to a strict deterministic plan. Most often, dialectics is used in psychology and sociology.
Concept
The dialectical method of thinking in our time implies an objective judgment. This is a science that reveals general laws, their development and the study of nature, including intelligent subjects and their mental abilities. What is meant by laws of nature? These are concepts without restrictions and any conditions. They are performed always and everywhere, in different areas of our life, including everyday life. This allows people to think more broadly, going from general to specific, from top to bottom. When such a relationship is taken into account, the laws of chemistry, physics, technology, and others fall to a lower level. Thus, the dialectical way of thinking prevails over the particular sciences. This means that it is relevant for a modern person and needs to be mastered.
Relevance of objective knowledge
A full-fledged life activity of a person is provided by the learning process, which begins from the moment of his birth. The individual changes depending on the results of his activities in the general environment. It is even more important to acquire human socio-historical experience. It is collected in the means of cognitive systems, production and languages. All this forms the basis of norms and values that correct the cooperation of different personalities and their social ties. This development concerns both individuals and society as a whole.
Given the rapid expansion of the use of electronic computers, the development of natural science, social structure, economics and other sciences, there is a need for young professionals who could think dialectically.
Basics
Dialectics is a method of thinking, which is referred to as the main methods of scientific knowledge. It includes the following items:
- principles;
- laws;
- categories.
Consider the dataaspects in more detail.
Principles
The main principles include the following concepts:
- Comprehensive approach. Assumes an objective study of the subject with all its relationships.
- Dynamism. Exploring an object in motion.
- Unity between logical and historical. Finding causal phenomena. Their consistent relationship on a historical background.
- Coming from abstract to precise. Here you need to start from a banal built-up model of reality and move towards an extremely clear and specific picture of the world.
Laws
Materialistic thinking is based on the laws of primary and secondary. The first include:
- Relationship in the transition of qualitative and quantitative changes. At some point there are violations in the unity of these components. As a result, the phenomenon acquires a qualitative state of a new form.
- Development in a spiral or regular denial. The transformation of the phenomenon occurs, on the one hand, by moving forward to other qualities. On the other hand, there is a return to the old through the repetition of individual properties of the same characteristics on a new basis.
- Interaction and unity of contradictions. The impetus for their development is their internal differences.
Categories and secondary laws
The category of dialectical thinking is the broadest concept, showing universal oppositions and interconnections, most of which are paired. Genesis andnon-existence is the basic basis of mental algorithms.
Minor laws include:
- general and singular;
- necessity and chance;
- content and form;
- causation;
- essence and phenomenon;
- whole and partial.
Formation
As already mentioned, the dialectical method of philosophical thinking can be applied in many areas of human activity. This imposes a certain measure of responsibility on teachers in order to form it in students. As practice has shown, a deep knowledge of several sciences at once is actually ineffective. According to the ancient thinkers, this method does not teach reason. Knowledge may lose its relevance or become obsolete. After all, it often happens that unclaimed information only becomes an unnecessary burden on a person's memory.
In this regard, attention is focused on the education of a thinking creative person. Everything is now aimed at updating the education system. It also comes down to the fact that without the development of dialectical thinking among teachers it is impossible to solve general educational problems. For this purpose, research guides for teachers have been developed. Here are some works: V. I. Andreeva, A. S. Belkina, L. G. Vyatkina, N. M. Zvereva, V. D. Simenova, V. I. Zhuravleva, Yu. N. Kulyutkina.
In psychology and pedagogy, two of the most popular areas are being developed. From innovative technologies of education and training, one can pay attention to the following works: L. M. Fridman, L. V. Putlyaeva, A. A. Verbitsky, L. M. Mitin. For the personal formation of strategies that can be implemented in communication and professional thinking: V. N. Myasishchev, A. V. Brushlinsky, V. D. Shadrikov, A. A. Bodalev, I. S. Yakimanskaya.
Formation of logical thinking in preschoolers
As the experience of the TRIZ (inventive problem solving theory) teaching process shows, it is possible to form dialectical thinking in preschoolers. The main thing is to present it in an accessible form for kids. Specialists have developed exercises and games for preschoolers, on the basis of which children themselves will be able to discover the basic laws of dialectics.
Let's consider one of the examples. The resolution of contradictions contributes to the development process. Under the confrontation in this case is the contact of two conflicting desires or requirements for the quality of the same object. This object is the room in which the father intends to rest and the child to play or listen to music. There is a need to resolve the contradiction, and, consequently, the process of development of the situation takes place.
Parents themselves can make a significant contribution to the formation of logical thinking in a baby. This will help the little personality to have reasonable conversations with other people, to find the right solutions in non-standard situations. The child needs to be made clear that winning an argument at any cost is not the essence of logical thinking. It is important to teach him to resolve disputes and conflicts through peaceful conversation, giving strong arguments. The sooner you start doing this, the better your child will be.trigger perception. The formation of dialectical thinking is an important component for the development of personality.
